Dearest Family,
THANK YOU THANK YOU for the package and most of all--the letters! I've been doing a lot better lately. I'm very happy and having fun. It's still challenging, of course, but I like the challenge. I've always preferred it that way--but sometimes it gets me into trouble. I bite off more than I can chew. :) Story of my life.
Anyway, as the story goes I was transferred here to Monroe. It's been nice so far. It's slowly growing on me. Admittedly, I haven't been with the area but I have no reason to dislike it.
My companions have been great. Elder Ainscough, (who was midnighted a week into the transfer), is from Denver, CO. He's a transfer older than me in the mission. He's a hard worker and we get along well. We have different styles of missionary work, but it's been good. I've already learned quite a bit. Elder Guillan has been lots of fun and we've had a great time. He's from Highland and spent lots of time in Provo so we're able to relate a bit. He knows a lot of the Provo Podcast people and spent lots of time at Velour and Gray Whale. He's been out three transfers or so, so about 5 mo. together, we make a pretty good team.
The work is going well too. We're teaching an older woman named Melody. (I think I may have mentioned her already.) Her baptismal date is Sep. 20. She's been doing well and the ward has been doing a fantastic job fellowhipping her! We're excited for her, and for the much-needed blessings she will receive for the good choices she's making. Aside from her, we've been teaching several Mexicans and tracting only in Spanish, looking for those elegidos who have been prepared to embrace the message. And most importantly (and difficultly,) come to church. We take our spanish-speaking investigators down to the Spanish ward in Bothell. It has been so cool and so much fun to see all the warm familiar faces! And to see recent converts still firm and active in the faith! One family and I talked about all the time in my Bothell days was Aymara and Victor. They needed to be married before they could be baptized, but Aymara needed a divorce from her ex-husband in Mexico. Well, though they still haven't been able to get it all worked out, they've still been coming to church each week! Their oldest son will be turning 8 soon and being baptized! I'm so happy for them and maintain the faith that the Lord will provide a way for them to accomplish the commandment to be baptized that he has given them. :0 (1 ne. 3:7)
Being a district leader has become a lot more fun lately, as I get the hang of the routine. I'm excited for this next transfer and the opportunity I'll have to help (in a greater capacity.) the Dlders in my district, especially the brand new ones.
So that's the current status on me, familia! The Lord has been blessing me in ways I never imagined. I am constantly humbled by the love and mercy he has for all his children. It is amazing how filling and satisfying it is to be feeling the Spirit so strongly so many times each day. I hope youa ll are continuing to invite that sustaining power into your lives on a daily basis also. I don't know how I ever survived on the spiritual equivalent of a pop-tart each day. I'm sure it was the constant nourishment I received from the love you all showed me, and I thank you for it. I wish those letters could communicate more of the love I have for you, but if they could, I don't think I could fit them in the envelope. :)
CON CARIÑO, ELDER SEAN
Friday, September 19, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
AUG 28
Family that I love:
This past week has been filled with cool experiences as well as the typical trials.
But here's a quick taste of what's been going on:
Whenever we tract or street contact, we almost always hand out one of the pamphlets on one of the lessons. We always put our contact info on the back, and up until about a week ago, I'd never had anyone actually end up calling us. We were in the church building making some photocopies when we got a phone call form a woman named Melody. She informed us that she had been talking to other missionaries (or that she'd gotten a pamphlet from them,) and she had a question about something in it! We met with her and found out she was a former investigator. In fact, she had investigated about three times before but she had never gone (or had been able to go) to church. She told us a story about how she got in a fight with her daughter, who she lives with and had been threatened to be kicked out. She felt she needed help, and more spiritual strength. So she was reading her Bible, and it kept on saying she needed to be baptized! She found one of the pamphlets the missionaries had given her, and called us up to see if we could help her out! She told us that she didn't have a job anymore, so she would now be able to come to church and that she wanted to be baptized! To make an already long story shorter, she's now come to church, she got a ride from a member, she has a baptismal date for Sept 7, she's committed to stop smoking, and she reads the chapters we assign her in the Book of Mormon! I'm so excited for her and it's been so cool to see someone who really HAS been prepared by the Lord to receive his gospel and enjoy the eternal blessings of baptism and confirmation. It's been amazing to see it change her life too! She's seemed so much happier ever since she's started making the changes in her life that bring about repentance.
I learned something cool the other day as I was preparing my district meeting. In the scriptures it says all over the place that the Elders/missionaries of the church are to cry repentance. I've never completely understood that, but as I was reading about the importance of commitments I learned that extending those commitments is how we cry repentance, because as our investigators keep their commitments they bring about repentance in their own lives. So if we don't "cry repentance" by inviting them to make and keep commitments, we aren't fulfilling our purpose.
As you, (family,) invite people to church or to read/pray about the Book of Mormon, you are helping (or inviting) them to make changes in their life that bring about repentance and make their lives happier. Cool eh? :D
Anyway, Monday we fasted to find new investigators. So we payed extra special attention to those guiding promptings of the Spirit. And we ended up finding 5 new investigators as well as just having an amazing day spiritually speaking.
It's been amazing to me to recognize how much better the lessons are as well as the reaction of those we're teaching as we feel the spirit really driving a lesson, as opposed to just saying words at somebody. When the Spirit is there and when it's not is beginning to become bery clear to me.
Well, I hope you all are enjoying this end of summer as much as I am. Though the sun is out less often, it's beginning to smell like fall. And for some reason, it reminds me of spring-ish time in Provo. Anyway, this place is great. I'm still getting used to Monroe, but it won't be too long. If I thought time was moving fast before, it's gone in a second now. I hardly have time to think before a week has gone by. I'm almost a year old! That's weird...!
Well, I love you all as much as youlove me. And you love me a lot. ;D Be happy and have fun!
LOVE, ELDER SEAN.
This past week has been filled with cool experiences as well as the typical trials.
But here's a quick taste of what's been going on:
Whenever we tract or street contact, we almost always hand out one of the pamphlets on one of the lessons. We always put our contact info on the back, and up until about a week ago, I'd never had anyone actually end up calling us. We were in the church building making some photocopies when we got a phone call form a woman named Melody. She informed us that she had been talking to other missionaries (or that she'd gotten a pamphlet from them,) and she had a question about something in it! We met with her and found out she was a former investigator. In fact, she had investigated about three times before but she had never gone (or had been able to go) to church. She told us a story about how she got in a fight with her daughter, who she lives with and had been threatened to be kicked out. She felt she needed help, and more spiritual strength. So she was reading her Bible, and it kept on saying she needed to be baptized! She found one of the pamphlets the missionaries had given her, and called us up to see if we could help her out! She told us that she didn't have a job anymore, so she would now be able to come to church and that she wanted to be baptized! To make an already long story shorter, she's now come to church, she got a ride from a member, she has a baptismal date for Sept 7, she's committed to stop smoking, and she reads the chapters we assign her in the Book of Mormon! I'm so excited for her and it's been so cool to see someone who really HAS been prepared by the Lord to receive his gospel and enjoy the eternal blessings of baptism and confirmation. It's been amazing to see it change her life too! She's seemed so much happier ever since she's started making the changes in her life that bring about repentance.
I learned something cool the other day as I was preparing my district meeting. In the scriptures it says all over the place that the Elders/missionaries of the church are to cry repentance. I've never completely understood that, but as I was reading about the importance of commitments I learned that extending those commitments is how we cry repentance, because as our investigators keep their commitments they bring about repentance in their own lives. So if we don't "cry repentance" by inviting them to make and keep commitments, we aren't fulfilling our purpose.
As you, (family,) invite people to church or to read/pray about the Book of Mormon, you are helping (or inviting) them to make changes in their life that bring about repentance and make their lives happier. Cool eh? :D
Anyway, Monday we fasted to find new investigators. So we payed extra special attention to those guiding promptings of the Spirit. And we ended up finding 5 new investigators as well as just having an amazing day spiritually speaking.
It's been amazing to me to recognize how much better the lessons are as well as the reaction of those we're teaching as we feel the spirit really driving a lesson, as opposed to just saying words at somebody. When the Spirit is there and when it's not is beginning to become bery clear to me.
Well, I hope you all are enjoying this end of summer as much as I am. Though the sun is out less often, it's beginning to smell like fall. And for some reason, it reminds me of spring-ish time in Provo. Anyway, this place is great. I'm still getting used to Monroe, but it won't be too long. If I thought time was moving fast before, it's gone in a second now. I hardly have time to think before a week has gone by. I'm almost a year old! That's weird...!
Well, I love you all as much as youlove me. And you love me a lot. ;D Be happy and have fun!
LOVE, ELDER SEAN.
POSTMARKED 22 AUG
Family:
Wow, so this "district leader" thing has been crazy. But I've been having a lot of fun. It's been a very humbling experience, which I'm grateful for. As I've relied more on the Lord, I've seen his hand more in the work.The only downside is that there are 3 elders "dying" this transfer (in my district) and one that dies next transfer! needless to say, I've got a pretty trunky district. Still, It's going great so far, and if I stay here in Monroe, (which it looks like I will,) there's a pretty good chance I'll have a bunch of younger missionaries in my district who I'll be able to help and influence a bit more.
So this "three-pack" thing is GREAT. But it doesn't look like it'll last very long. This past Monday, one of the companions was "midnighted" (so basically President called him up at 3:00 in the afternoon on Sunday and told him he was going to be transfered the next morning) It was done so another spanish Elder, a new one who was going to go home, could be able to be with a companion who could help him more. So now I have a new companion named Elder Ainscough. He's hitting his year mark today! It's weird seeing all the older missionaries go home and slowly becoming one of the older one's in the mission. But it's all part of this progression towards eventually going home. But I gotta say, I've been loving it. - but about the three-pack: Like I said, We've been having a great time. It's a lot more interesting as well as helpful when you've got a third person to talk, share experiences and testify. It really comes in handy having Elder Guillen as a native speaker. Though he isn't quite as fluent as some of the other spanish elders. He learned all his gospel Spanish in the MTC. Either way, I couldn't be happier with the current companion situation.
Monroe isn't a bad place either. It's not quite as rural as Mt. Vernon, but not as city as Bothell. It seems like Monroe and some of the neighboring towns were once mining towns. In the parking lot of a Gocery Outlet store there's a huge smokestack coming out of the middle of the parking lot. So this is an interesting place, but not quite as interesting as Mt. Vernon. Or maybe it's just because I don't know Monroe as well. I was really excited to train last transfer, and now i'm not as much. I guess I really liked the idea of being able to train in Mt. V, but probably because I knew it so well. But I'm not too worried that I won't know Monroe just as well by the time I train. Which looks like it will be coming up here in November. The big turnover of the mission will be happening in the next little while as groups of about 20 missionaries go home and 20 or so new one's come out. I'm kind of excited for it, because it'll give us a chance to more easily guide the mission in the right direction and fix the general trunky attitude of the mission. :)
Anyway, thank you all for your letters along with the tie! I hope all is still well over there in Provo. Let me know how everything goes with Olivia's reception! It's comforting to know you're able to see the blessings in some form or another of my service. The Lord's definitely taking care of you! When does school start? Wow, it's weird to think the school cycle is starting all over again! The days are slowly cooling down over here and it won't be too long before the leaves start falling. Crazy... Anyway, love you all!
ELDER SEAN
Wow, so this "district leader" thing has been crazy. But I've been having a lot of fun. It's been a very humbling experience, which I'm grateful for. As I've relied more on the Lord, I've seen his hand more in the work.The only downside is that there are 3 elders "dying" this transfer (in my district) and one that dies next transfer! needless to say, I've got a pretty trunky district. Still, It's going great so far, and if I stay here in Monroe, (which it looks like I will,) there's a pretty good chance I'll have a bunch of younger missionaries in my district who I'll be able to help and influence a bit more.
So this "three-pack" thing is GREAT. But it doesn't look like it'll last very long. This past Monday, one of the companions was "midnighted" (so basically President called him up at 3:00 in the afternoon on Sunday and told him he was going to be transfered the next morning) It was done so another spanish Elder, a new one who was going to go home, could be able to be with a companion who could help him more. So now I have a new companion named Elder Ainscough. He's hitting his year mark today! It's weird seeing all the older missionaries go home and slowly becoming one of the older one's in the mission. But it's all part of this progression towards eventually going home. But I gotta say, I've been loving it. - but about the three-pack: Like I said, We've been having a great time. It's a lot more interesting as well as helpful when you've got a third person to talk, share experiences and testify. It really comes in handy having Elder Guillen as a native speaker. Though he isn't quite as fluent as some of the other spanish elders. He learned all his gospel Spanish in the MTC. Either way, I couldn't be happier with the current companion situation.
Monroe isn't a bad place either. It's not quite as rural as Mt. Vernon, but not as city as Bothell. It seems like Monroe and some of the neighboring towns were once mining towns. In the parking lot of a Gocery Outlet store there's a huge smokestack coming out of the middle of the parking lot. So this is an interesting place, but not quite as interesting as Mt. Vernon. Or maybe it's just because I don't know Monroe as well. I was really excited to train last transfer, and now i'm not as much. I guess I really liked the idea of being able to train in Mt. V, but probably because I knew it so well. But I'm not too worried that I won't know Monroe just as well by the time I train. Which looks like it will be coming up here in November. The big turnover of the mission will be happening in the next little while as groups of about 20 missionaries go home and 20 or so new one's come out. I'm kind of excited for it, because it'll give us a chance to more easily guide the mission in the right direction and fix the general trunky attitude of the mission. :)
Anyway, thank you all for your letters along with the tie! I hope all is still well over there in Provo. Let me know how everything goes with Olivia's reception! It's comforting to know you're able to see the blessings in some form or another of my service. The Lord's definitely taking care of you! When does school start? Wow, it's weird to think the school cycle is starting all over again! The days are slowly cooling down over here and it won't be too long before the leaves start falling. Crazy... Anyway, love you all!
ELDER SEAN
POSTMARKED: 15 AUG 2008
Querida familia:
So it finally happened! They transfered me! I really thought I was going to be staying in Mt. Vernon for a while, but when I got the phone call from President informing me that I'd be a district leader instead of training, it soon became clear Monroe would be my destination. With the six or so new missionaries coming out this transfer, (at least that will be speaking spanish,) the older spanish elders needed to be placed in certain areas where it would be easy to move out the jr. companions.
The LAST thing I thought I'd be doing this transfer was be a district leader. It TOTALLY took me off guard. Her I was, so sure I'd be training but if the Lord wants me to be here, so be it. I was looking forward to some added responsibility, but not THIS much! I feel very incapable, but it's comforting to know that I'm entitled to the extra measure of assistance that I need from the Lord, that I need to fulfill my duties. That's probably the only thing that has been keeping me from stressing out--knowing that as long as I do my best, stay humble and ask for help, He'll make up for what I lack.
I'm sure in a transfer I'll be loving the call, but until then it looks like I'll be doing a ton of praying. I'm glad to know that I'm trusted enough to be a god example to those in my district, but I sure hope I can fulfill the other half of a leader's responsibilities and "lift, encourage, inspire, and bless."
--3 DAYS LATER
"I tell you what, wow!" This is turning out to be really nothing like I imagined. After three days I'm starting to really appreciate the flexibility and leadership of previous district leaders I've had. i'm so used to just focusing on and taking care of the work in my area, but now I have to keep tabs on everyone else's area too! I have to be available for whenever I'm needed by the elders in my district. And then, still, my area is supposed to be the model, example area for my district. So basically, I'm not used to having so little freedom of time to work with investigators, members, ward leaders, etc. I'm finding it rather annoying, mostly because it's a change in the manner and style I work. But it's good! It's a fun challenge for me right now. I have to revise the way I work -- remove as much dead time as I can and be as efficient and effective as possible. Do the same amount of work in less time.
So I'm in a "three-pack" right now with Elder Guillen and Elder Martin. One of the new spanish elders, Elder Cordada, is going home in a couple of days (I'm not sure why, he just wants to go home.) So Elder Martin will probably be "midnighted" tonight or tomorrow. It's been really fun though while we've been together.
BACK TO ORIGINAL DAY OF WRITING?
P-day was pretty fun though. We went hiking up to a huge waterfall! It was the first hike I've been on since I've been here in Washington. I think I figured there'd be more hikes to go on if I was serving a mission in Washington. Anyway, they say that's pretty much all there is to do here in the Snohomish zone. :)
I'm excited to be somewhere new again and to have the chance to get to know a new companion. And to see all the spanish ward members I knew.
How are things at home? Already getting ready for the start of a new school year? Are Olivia and Ben back yet? How's the bike-riding to work going? Any more new additions to the house? :) How was everyone's summer? Were there any family reunions this year?
Well, I hope you all are doing as good as I am and are being excellent to each other. I'll be sending a package home soon with the shirt I promised Calvin along with another late birthday surprise. Just FYI.
LOVE, ELDER JUAREZ
So it finally happened! They transfered me! I really thought I was going to be staying in Mt. Vernon for a while, but when I got the phone call from President informing me that I'd be a district leader instead of training, it soon became clear Monroe would be my destination. With the six or so new missionaries coming out this transfer, (at least that will be speaking spanish,) the older spanish elders needed to be placed in certain areas where it would be easy to move out the jr. companions.
The LAST thing I thought I'd be doing this transfer was be a district leader. It TOTALLY took me off guard. Her I was, so sure I'd be training but if the Lord wants me to be here, so be it. I was looking forward to some added responsibility, but not THIS much! I feel very incapable, but it's comforting to know that I'm entitled to the extra measure of assistance that I need from the Lord, that I need to fulfill my duties. That's probably the only thing that has been keeping me from stressing out--knowing that as long as I do my best, stay humble and ask for help, He'll make up for what I lack.
I'm sure in a transfer I'll be loving the call, but until then it looks like I'll be doing a ton of praying. I'm glad to know that I'm trusted enough to be a god example to those in my district, but I sure hope I can fulfill the other half of a leader's responsibilities and "lift, encourage, inspire, and bless."
--3 DAYS LATER
"I tell you what, wow!" This is turning out to be really nothing like I imagined. After three days I'm starting to really appreciate the flexibility and leadership of previous district leaders I've had. i'm so used to just focusing on and taking care of the work in my area, but now I have to keep tabs on everyone else's area too! I have to be available for whenever I'm needed by the elders in my district. And then, still, my area is supposed to be the model, example area for my district. So basically, I'm not used to having so little freedom of time to work with investigators, members, ward leaders, etc. I'm finding it rather annoying, mostly because it's a change in the manner and style I work. But it's good! It's a fun challenge for me right now. I have to revise the way I work -- remove as much dead time as I can and be as efficient and effective as possible. Do the same amount of work in less time.
So I'm in a "three-pack" right now with Elder Guillen and Elder Martin. One of the new spanish elders, Elder Cordada, is going home in a couple of days (I'm not sure why, he just wants to go home.) So Elder Martin will probably be "midnighted" tonight or tomorrow. It's been really fun though while we've been together.
BACK TO ORIGINAL DAY OF WRITING?
P-day was pretty fun though. We went hiking up to a huge waterfall! It was the first hike I've been on since I've been here in Washington. I think I figured there'd be more hikes to go on if I was serving a mission in Washington. Anyway, they say that's pretty much all there is to do here in the Snohomish zone. :)
I'm excited to be somewhere new again and to have the chance to get to know a new companion. And to see all the spanish ward members I knew.
How are things at home? Already getting ready for the start of a new school year? Are Olivia and Ben back yet? How's the bike-riding to work going? Any more new additions to the house? :) How was everyone's summer? Were there any family reunions this year?
Well, I hope you all are doing as good as I am and are being excellent to each other. I'll be sending a package home soon with the shirt I promised Calvin along with another late birthday surprise. Just FYI.
LOVE, ELDER JUAREZ
AUG 7-9ish
FAMILIA:
Today was a great day. So it's about time I properly updated you and brought you up to speed. The transfer's winding down again and there's talk among the Spanish Elders about who's moving where.
I've been oddly excited about training since about four weeks ago. It was rather random at the time but slowly the idea has become more and more likely. One new Spanish Elder is coming this next transfer (Aug 12). He'll be the first one to have spent the 8 weeks in the MTC learning Spanish. I'm one of two elders that could train. The others either have trained in Spanish already, or don't quite know enough Spanish to train effectively. So I've been going through the past week or two anticipating getting a greenie. However I still know anything could happen. It wouldn't be the first time I've been surprised with how they work it out.
The of course this past week has been quite the reality check. The closer we get to transfers the more I'm sure it'll be NOTHING like I'm expecting. Maybe that's what excites me the most. :) I've realized I don't feel completely ready to train, but if I did, it wouldn't be a challenge. i suppose I'm mostly ready for the change. I'm ready for the increase in responsibility. I'm ready for a rude-awakening to the sense of my duty. Elder Herrin and I have become very good friends and work well together. But as a result, we've become lax in our work. Thankfully, having to speak Spanish has kept us uncomfortable and humble enough to remember we still need a lot of help from the Lord.
We were pleasantly surprised about two weeks ago during a zone mtg. while "training-modeling" a lesson plan for the second lesson. We practiced teaching two other elders two principles from the Plan of Salvation. Though we felt our model was decent, we were generously complemented by our zone leaders, the assistants, and President Showalter on the effective way we taught. It was comforting to us to know that though we did a great job from the "outside" we still felt there was a lot we could work on. It was evidence that we had actually been making a lot more progress than we realized. But of course, "no good deed goes unpunished" and we were called on in Zone Conference this past Monday to training model the WHOLE lesson in front of half the mission AND Elder Richard G. Hinckley who had come to do a mission tour! Of course we felt even WORSE about how we did (compared to before,) but we felt the Spirit as we taught and testified. And to our surprise, more comments were made about what we did well than what we could work on. Personally, I was satisfied with the fact that I felt the Spirit while teaching, but to know that my other teaching skills were at a level stable enough to ALLOW me to focus on inviting the Spirit was MOST comforting. There is still much we can do to improve, but in the meantime, we're doing a lot of things right.
With only two months left to the half-way point, I've been doing a lot of "looking back." Am I where I wanted to be by now? Am I living up to my original expectations? Though the entire process is stressful, (because I've still got a long way to go before my year-mark deadline,) It has been really fun and humbling to see how far I've come.
I can approach almost anyone in Spanish without worrying first what I'm going to say. I can have a simple conversation without having to translate it first into English in my head. I gather about 90% of what is said in what WAS "really fast Spanish" six months ago. I recently fumbled reciting Joseph Smith's First Vision (in English) because I couldn't translate it fast enough from the SPANISH version I was reciting in my head! I'm more comfortable street-contacting in Spanish than in English. It's hard for me to believe Elder Cole and I taught and baptized so many without even knowing how to correctly conjugate in the PRESENT tense! "El evangelio bendicir familias. Yo se mi familia recibir bendiciones en pasado, y usteds son recibiendo mes bendiciones tambien!" (Literally: "The gospel bless families. I know my family recieve blessings in past and you are receiving more blessings too!) It's further testimony that it is the SPIRIT that does the teaching. Like Preach My Gospel says, (quoting Ezra Taft Benson): "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work. With the Spirit magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability."
I don't struggle to relate to others anymore, and walking around with my hands out of my pockets doesn't feel weird. Small talk comes easily, though it still has its fair share of awkward silences. I have a nice bank of scriptures to use and draw from, but somehow they rarely seem to be the ones I need. :) I can call anyone (whether I know them or not) without feeling anxious about what I'm going to say. I can smoothly extend a "will you" commitment, though I'm not as disappointed as I should be when those commitments aren't kept.
Though I've come far, it seems there's so much left to learn and so little time. But there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. I am having so much fun and I am in love with my mission. :)
It's good to hear everything's going well at home, too. Whatever happened to that Spanish-speaking family you fellowshipped that lives kitty-corner to our house?
Anyway, so it is.
LOVE YOU TONS!
-ELDER SEAN
Today was a great day. So it's about time I properly updated you and brought you up to speed. The transfer's winding down again and there's talk among the Spanish Elders about who's moving where.
I've been oddly excited about training since about four weeks ago. It was rather random at the time but slowly the idea has become more and more likely. One new Spanish Elder is coming this next transfer (Aug 12). He'll be the first one to have spent the 8 weeks in the MTC learning Spanish. I'm one of two elders that could train. The others either have trained in Spanish already, or don't quite know enough Spanish to train effectively. So I've been going through the past week or two anticipating getting a greenie. However I still know anything could happen. It wouldn't be the first time I've been surprised with how they work it out.
The of course this past week has been quite the reality check. The closer we get to transfers the more I'm sure it'll be NOTHING like I'm expecting. Maybe that's what excites me the most. :) I've realized I don't feel completely ready to train, but if I did, it wouldn't be a challenge. i suppose I'm mostly ready for the change. I'm ready for the increase in responsibility. I'm ready for a rude-awakening to the sense of my duty. Elder Herrin and I have become very good friends and work well together. But as a result, we've become lax in our work. Thankfully, having to speak Spanish has kept us uncomfortable and humble enough to remember we still need a lot of help from the Lord.
We were pleasantly surprised about two weeks ago during a zone mtg. while "training-modeling" a lesson plan for the second lesson. We practiced teaching two other elders two principles from the Plan of Salvation. Though we felt our model was decent, we were generously complemented by our zone leaders, the assistants, and President Showalter on the effective way we taught. It was comforting to us to know that though we did a great job from the "outside" we still felt there was a lot we could work on. It was evidence that we had actually been making a lot more progress than we realized. But of course, "no good deed goes unpunished" and we were called on in Zone Conference this past Monday to training model the WHOLE lesson in front of half the mission AND Elder Richard G. Hinckley who had come to do a mission tour! Of course we felt even WORSE about how we did (compared to before,) but we felt the Spirit as we taught and testified. And to our surprise, more comments were made about what we did well than what we could work on. Personally, I was satisfied with the fact that I felt the Spirit while teaching, but to know that my other teaching skills were at a level stable enough to ALLOW me to focus on inviting the Spirit was MOST comforting. There is still much we can do to improve, but in the meantime, we're doing a lot of things right.
With only two months left to the half-way point, I've been doing a lot of "looking back." Am I where I wanted to be by now? Am I living up to my original expectations? Though the entire process is stressful, (because I've still got a long way to go before my year-mark deadline,) It has been really fun and humbling to see how far I've come.
I can approach almost anyone in Spanish without worrying first what I'm going to say. I can have a simple conversation without having to translate it first into English in my head. I gather about 90% of what is said in what WAS "really fast Spanish" six months ago. I recently fumbled reciting Joseph Smith's First Vision (in English) because I couldn't translate it fast enough from the SPANISH version I was reciting in my head! I'm more comfortable street-contacting in Spanish than in English. It's hard for me to believe Elder Cole and I taught and baptized so many without even knowing how to correctly conjugate in the PRESENT tense! "El evangelio bendicir familias. Yo se mi familia recibir bendiciones en pasado, y usteds son recibiendo mes bendiciones tambien!" (Literally: "The gospel bless families. I know my family recieve blessings in past and you are receiving more blessings too!) It's further testimony that it is the SPIRIT that does the teaching. Like Preach My Gospel says, (quoting Ezra Taft Benson): "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work. With the Spirit magnifying your call, you can do miracles for the Lord in the mission field. Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability."
I don't struggle to relate to others anymore, and walking around with my hands out of my pockets doesn't feel weird. Small talk comes easily, though it still has its fair share of awkward silences. I have a nice bank of scriptures to use and draw from, but somehow they rarely seem to be the ones I need. :) I can call anyone (whether I know them or not) without feeling anxious about what I'm going to say. I can smoothly extend a "will you" commitment, though I'm not as disappointed as I should be when those commitments aren't kept.
Though I've come far, it seems there's so much left to learn and so little time. But there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. I am having so much fun and I am in love with my mission. :)
It's good to hear everything's going well at home, too. Whatever happened to that Spanish-speaking family you fellowshipped that lives kitty-corner to our house?
Anyway, so it is.
LOVE YOU TONS!
-ELDER SEAN
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